Submersible hull including a detachable man-carrying capsule



June .8 B. B. BARHITE ET AL 3,388,683

SUBMERSIBLE HULL INCLUDING A DETACHABLE MAN-CARRYING CAPSULE Filed Jan.17, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEA'TC R S BURL B. BARHITE PAUL ARNOLD June18, 1968 B. B. BARHITE ET AL 3,388,683

SUBMERSIBLE HULL INCLUDING A DETACHABLE MAN-CARRYING CAPSULE 3Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 17, 1967 INVENTORS BURL B. BARHITE W? p Q I PAULARNOLD June 18, 1968 B. B4 BARHITE ET AL 3,388,683

CARRYING CAPSULE SUBMERSIBLE HULL INCLUDING A DETACHABLE MAN- Fil edJan. 17, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

INvavwRs BURL B. BARHITE PAUL ARNOLD United States Patent ()ficePatented June 18, 1968 3,388,683 SUBMERSIELE HULL INCLUDING A DETACH-ABLE h IAN-CARRYKNG CAESULE Burl B. Eai'hite, 6821 SW. 1st St. 33144,and Paul Arnold, 3338A SW. th Terrace 33133, both of Miami, Fla.

Filed Jan. 17, 1967, er. No. 6fi,834 4 Ciairns. (Cl. 114-16) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A hermetically sealed submersible vehicle for carryingand ejecting therefrom a man-carrying capsule.

This invention relates in general to underwater craft and moreparticularly to a power driven hull containing a releasible man-carryingcapsule-like container.

The invention provides for a power driven craft particularly adapted tounderwater investigation and for performing underwater work tasksthrough the release of a man-carrying capsule for exploration and workat the bottom of a body of water which may be free from or tethered tothe main craft.

Prior craft of this general character required the release of anobserver or worker through an interlock exit chamber which greatlylimited the observation or work time periods away from the main craft. Afurther objection in observation from the main craft resides in itsinability to navigate irregular bottoms and other impediments,particularly including crevices.

The above objections and disadvantages are overcome by the presentinvention, in which a principal object is the provision of a powerpropelled submersible craft construed and adapted for movement andtravel at great depths in which a cylindrical man-carrying capsule isnormally retained within a central vertical tube hermetically sealed inthe craft, which capsule is released from the craft, permitting a scubaequipped diver therein to exit therefrom and observe or work.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a man carryingcylindrical capsule normally retained in a vertical cylinder in andthrough a submersible craft, including connection means for supplyingthe capsule with air, communications and electric power from the craft.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a driven gearsecured around the periphery of the aforesaid capsule for engagement bya driving gear projecting from the inner wall of the tube in the craftfor rotating the capsule within said craft through a predeterminedazimuthal angle and for observation purposes and for registering andconnecting the aforesaid connection means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means withincapsule for descending from the craft through the use of release meansand buoyancy control within the capsule through the controlled admissionof water into the lower portion thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a capsule which maybe released and returned in a tubular compartment in a craft and whenreleased provided with Windlass anchorage means for raising and loweringthe capsule to and from the bottom of the body of water.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lower hatch meanswhereby a man equipped with scuba or other diving equipment may leavethe aforesaid capsule for observation or to perform work at the bottom.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of theinvention are described and shown in the following specification anddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the submersible craft with a removablecapsule therein in reduced scale.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the craft shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional elevation taken through section line 33,FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional end elevation taken through section line 44,FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional side elevation taken through sectionline 55, FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional plan view taken throughsection line 6-6, FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 illustrates the aforesaid capsule descended from the craft.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating five maneuverable operations of thecapsule shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a generally ellipsoidal single hull 1 isintended to be motivated and steered by well known means, such as jet,propeller, and/ or rudder means, which means are illustrated bystarboard and port pods 2-2. The power source may be batteries or fuelcells. The attitude of the hull when submerged is controlled by theusual well known ballast means by adding or subtracting water ballastfrom internal chambers, not shown. Typical observation windows 3 and 4,adapted to withstand high pressures, are positioned in the forward endof the craft.

A water tight hinged hatch cover 5 is positioned within a transparentstreamlined shaped shroud 6, open at the upper end thereof, secured tothe upper portion of the hull for providing observation and preventingwater from entering when the vessel is awash. A lower water tight hatch7 is slidably movable to a position shown in dotted lines, by well knownmeans, not shown, for the descent of the capsule assembly 8, which issecured within a cylindrical wall in the craft. An upper water tightsliding hatch cover 9 is provided to close the cylindrical opening, bywell known sliding means not shown, when the capsule assembly 8 isabsent. A vertical tube 10 is hermetically secured through the center ofthe hull 1, as shown, as a retainer for the capsule assembly 8.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the capsule assembly 8 is normally retainedin tube 10, as shown, with the lower hatch cover 7 in closed positionand the upper hatch cover 9 in open position. The capsule consists of acylindrical casing 11 having an eye 12 in the central upper end thereoffor the purpose of handling and transport. The capsule casing 11 isprovided with a plurality of pressure resistant sealed windows 13 aroundthe upper periphery thereof for observation purposes. The capsule isnormally retained in said tube It by stop and lock means, to behereafter described. The buoyancy or the descent and rise of the capsulemay be controlled by the admission and the expelling of ballast water,by well known means.

A plurality of fuel cells or batteries 14 are retained in the bottom ofthe hull for supplying electric power and, in addition, ballast tanks,not shown, are provided in the fore and aft, as well as starboard andport, sides of the hull for controlling buoyancy and the attitude of thehull when submerged. A plurality of well known air or oxygen tanks 15are provided to sustain the crew within the hull when the vessel issubmerged, as well as a plurality of well known operational indicatorsand control assembly 16, not shown in detail.

A water tight hatch cover 17 is pivotally secured to the lower end ofthe capsule and adapted for internal operation, to be hereinafterdescribed.

Referring to FIG. 5, the capsule casing 11 is provided with a centralpartition 18 having a water tight hatch cover 19 therefor centrallypositioned therein and a circular seat assembly 20, on which a person orpersons in the capsule may be seated with access to a control board 21,which is intended to control the necessary functions of the capsule. Oneor more air or oxygen tanks 22 are retained in the lower portion of thecapsule to supply oxygen for breathing purposes in the upper portions ofthe capsule. A remote controlled electric winch means 23, not shown indetail, has connected thereto a linkwork 24 for raising and loweringanchor weight W, by means of a cable 25. The capsule is also providedwith certain well known accessories, not shown, such as chemical meansfor absorbing carbon dioxide and means for controlling ballast waterabove and below partition 18, thus providing a means for independentlycontrolling the buoyancy of the capsule independent of the hull 1. Astop flange 26 around the lower periphery of the capsule is adapted toregister against a plurality of retractible stops 27, which are operatedby remote control actuators 28. A gear 29 is secured about the peripheryof the upper poriion of the capsule for engagement with a power driveworm gear 30 which is driven by a power assembly 31 when energized,better shown in FIG. 6.

Two sets of three guide rollers 36 are provided around the upper andlower periphery of the capsule, respectively, for coaxial guidance ofthe capsule into and out of the tube 10. FIG. 6 also shows a cylindricalopening 32 in the lower part of the upper portion of the casing 11,through which a person may descend into the lower portion of the capsulewhen the hatch cover 19 is opened by well known internal means. Aconnection complex 33, shown in FIG. 5, between the hull 1 and thecapsule casing 11 is positioned for operation by either the person inthe capsule or a person within the hull, which connection establisheselectric power, communications and air or oxygen flow between the hulland capsule.

In operation and referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, two persons may lie proneon shelves 34 and 35, shown in FIG. 3, and control the course of thecraft by the convenient manipulation of the control assembly 16 andunder the assumption a person equipped with scuba gear is positioned inthe upper portion of the capsule 11 then at the appropriate time thecapsule is readied for descent from the craft by first sliding the lowerhatch cover 7 to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. By theremote control of actuators 28, stops 27 are withdrawn and theconnection complex 33 is disconnected and sealed from interlock positionwith the hull.

Then upon the option of a person within the capsule ballast water iscaused to flow within the lower chamber of the capsule permitting a lossin buoyancy which will cause the capsule to descend from the craft, asillustrated in FIG. 7. When the capsule has reached a desired depth, aperson therein will operate the winch to lower the weight W to thebottom, thus anchoring the capsule in a relatively fixed position.

It is apparent that when the actuators are operated and the stopswithdrawn and the anchor weight W is released, as shown in FIG. 7, thecable 25 will withdraw the capsule 11 from the hull and descend as adiving bell until the weight reaches the bottom where the position ofthe capsule will be retained dependent upon the length of cable releasedor withdrawn by the winch means 23-.

FIG. 8 represents several modes of operation of the capsule which may beused in connection with return to its initial position in the cylinderof the craft, which is maneuvered to a fixed position above the capsule,the first of which is illustrated by A in FIG. 8, in which the weight Wis retracted into the capsule and the hatch cover 17 is closed andsufficient ballast is pumped from the capsule to cause the latter torise, as indicated by arrow, to the surface or into the cylinder of thecraft above.

B represents the capsule with the weight W extended a predetermineddistance and sufiicient ballast in the capsule to cause same to descendonly until the weight rests upon the bottom.

C represents the capsule with the same ballast condition as in B withthe cable released, which will permit the capsule to rise.

D represents the same conditions as in B, except the expulsion of agreater amount of ballast water permitting the capsule to rise from apredetermined depth and move the weight upward therewith.

E represents the condition shown in D without the expulsion of ballastwater and with the cable released, permitting the capsule to rise with agreater velocity, particularly as an emergency method.

It is apparent that in a maneuver to bring the capsule into its normalrest position in the craft, either the craft may be lowered onto thecapsule or the capsule may be raised into the craft.

It is further apparent that a properly equipped diver can exit from thecapsule and perform certain explorations or work and re-enter thecapsule for a rest period and then continue work outside of the capsule,and upon final entry he may re-join the craft for rising to the surface,thus providing a means for making observations or performing underwaterwork with a high degree of cfiiciency.

It is understood that certain modifications in the above construction,utilizing the features described, are intended to come within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. An underwater craft comprising a hermetically sealed man-carryingsubmersible hull for descent in a body of waterincluding means forcontrolling the buoyancy thereof and means for propelling said craft invertical and horizontal directions when manually operated,

a cylinder hermetically sealed in said hull with the axis verticalthereof forming a cylindrical open chamber therethrough,

a hermetically sealed man-carrying cylindrical capsule adapted andconstructed to be removably retained in said chamber in coaxial relationtherewith with the outer surface of said capsule in close proximity withthe inner surface of said cylinder,

locking means cooperatively associated with said capsule and saidchamber for movement from a locked to a release position for holdingsaid capsule in said chamber and releasing said capsule for verticalaxial movement respectively when operated,

an anchor weight normally secured in the bottom portion of said capsuleincluding a tether having one end connected to said weight and theopposite end connected to said capsule whereby the release of saidweight will permit gravitation thereof to said bottom and said tetherwill move said capsule downward and out of said chamber in said hullwhen said locking means is operated for retaining said capsule in apredetermined underwater location.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a driven gear meanssecured to the outer periphery of said capsule,

drive gear means projecting from the inner wall of said cylinder forengagement with said driven gear when said capsule is positioned bylocking means when in said locked position,

means for rotating said drive gear in said hull for rotating saidcapsule in said bull to selected prededetermined azimuthal positionswith respect to said hull when operated.

3. The construction recited in claim 1 including a hull connectioncomplex extending through said cylinder into said chamber and a matingcapsule complex extending through the periphery of said capsule formating engagement with said hull complex when registered therewith bythe rotation of said capsule to a predetermined position about the axisthereof with respect to said cylinder,

both said complexes when in register providing hermetically sealed meansfor conduit connections for the flow of life sustaining gas from saidhull to said capsule and insulated electrical connections for electricpower and communication.

4. An underwater craft comprising a hermetically sealed man-carryingsubmersible hull for descent in a body of water including means forcontrolling the buoyancy thereof and means for propelling said craft invertical and horizontal directions when manually operated,

a cylinder hermetically sealed substantialiy central in said hull withthe axis vertical thereof forming a cylindrical open chambertherethrough,

a hermetically sealed man-carrying cylindrical capsule adapted andconstructed to be removably retained in said chamber in coaxial relationtherewith with the outer surface of said capsule in close proximity withthe inner surface of said cylinder,

locking means cooperatively associated with said capsule and saidchamber for movement from a locked to a release position for holdingsaid capsule in said chamber and releasing said capsule for verticalaxial movement respectively when operated,

manually operated ballast means in said capsule for admitting andexpelling ballast water into and therefrom when operated for the descentof the capsule out of said tube when said ballast Water is admitted andsaid hull is submerged to a predetermined depth and substantiallystationary for anchoring said capsule at the bottom of said body ofwater when said locking means is operated to said release position,

an anchor weight normally secured to said capsule including a tetherconnected to said Weight and said capsule for gravitation to said bottomwhen said weight is released from said capsule for holding the latter ina predetermined location against predetermined buoyancy thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,192,564 12/1966 Lehmann 1l4-163,299,645 1/1967 Link 114-16 X MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

TRYGVE M. BLIX, Examiner.

